Brace for vehicle canopy-bows.



A. A. STEGKEL.

BRAGE FOR VEHICLE CANOPY BOWS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1911.

mmmz Patented 53.11.30, 1912.

2 SHEETS-$HEET 1,

A. A; STEOKEL.

BRAGE FOR VEHICLE CANOPY BOWS. APPLIGATIONIILED'JAN. 5, 1911.

1,61 6, 1 0?. Patented Jan. 30,1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i ooooopooj o .99 a 5/ 6" Wig/5%.

W. J. STEINBRENNER.

GARBURETER.

APPLICATION TILED APR. 26', 1909.

Patented J an. 30, 1912.

m iffy IIHI UNITED STATES PATENT orrio I AUGUSTUS A. STECKEL, F TRENTON,NEW JERSEY.

BRACE FOR VEHICLE CANOPY-Bows.

[0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS A. SrEoKnL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county ofMercer and State of New Jersey, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Braces for Vehicle Canopy-Bows, of'which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in braces to be employed infinishing and is adapted for use in connection with bows' of anyproportion and relation and is moreover constructed with particularregard to the connection ofthe top bars of the bows whereby said topbars may be held against sagging or distortion consequent to the stressarising from the stretching of the cover. The side brace ordinarilyemployed is common to all of the bows whereas the device which forms thesubject of the present invention is'interposed only between a pair ofbows and as many of the devices as may be necessary to firmly brace theseveral bows are employed. The invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing themanner of using the improved brace; Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view showing a clamp provided at the end ofthe brace for engagement with the upper bar of the bows Fig. 4 1s aperspective view of the improved brace; Fig. 5 is a detail sectionalview showmg the adjustable connection between the sections of the brace;and Fig. 6 is a plan view of the improv'd brace.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views. e

Figs. 1 and 2 show the manner in which \the brace is used, the bowsbeing indicated by the letter A and the braces being 1nd1- leated by theletter B. In the example shown ;tliere are four bows, .and three pairsof braces are employed in connection. there- Specification of LettersPatent.

-. Application filed January 5, 1911.

Serial No. 600,877. Q

Patented-Jet I with, two of the pairs of braces between the end bows andthe bows adjacent thereto, and the remaining pair of braces extendingbetween the intermediate bows.

The construction of the braces is shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 6. Eachbrace comprises adjustably related sections, 1 and 2Qwhich are in themain of similar construction. Thev sections 1 and 2 each 001181813 01? astraight metal bar having at its inner'end a-guide lug 3. In the exampleshown-the sections 1 and 2 have a dovetailed cross section and the lugs3 each have a dovetailed groove through which the other section 1 or;2as

the case may be, is passed. One ofthe sec tions, 6. 9., section 1, hasone. of its beveled,

side faces calibrated as at 4, in order to give an indication of thecombined length of the sections in any extended relation thereof. Thesection Lis also provided in its' inner face with a row of recesses, as5, and the section 2 is provided at its inner-endwith a thumb screw, as6, the extremity of which may be engaged in any selected recess 5 inorder to hold the sections in :some desired extended relation.

At the outer ends of each section 1 and 2,

a clamp is provided which is constructed with special regard tofrictionally engaging the upper bar of a bow regardless of the plane ofinclination of said bar. This clamp is designated generally by thenumeral 7 and comprises a pair of straps 8 and 9 which are fitted toopposite faces of the section by which they are carried and are securedby rivets. The strap 8 is practically flush throughout its extent withthe adjacent face of the section by which it is carried but the strap 9is provided at its outer end with an angularly turned lug, as 10. Aclamp member 11 having an inturned ser rated gripping flange 12 ishinged to the strap 8 and a clamp member, as 13, having an inturnedgripping flange 1 1 is hinged to the lug 10. The clamp members 11 and 13are drawn into frictional engagement with the upper bar of a how by' adevice which comprises a. headed screw stem 15 passed through openingsin said clamp members and a wing nut 16 provided on the threadedextremity of the stem 15. The smooth surfaced portion of the latterpasses through the member 11 and has a flat sided cross section, the oe'ning in the member 11 through which said stem 15 passes beingsimilarly shaped in order to prevent said stem from turning when the nut16 is turned. The opening in the member 13 13, by virtue of their hingedconnection to the straps 8 and 9, adjust themselves to the plane ofinclination of the upper bar of the how.

In using the device the sections 1 and 2 are extended to the desireddegree, the clamp members 11 and 13 are fitted over the upper bars ofthe adjacent braces, the screw 6 is turned to engage its extremity in aparticular recess 5 in order to hold the sections 1 and 2 againstdisplacement andthe nuts 16 are turned to cause the frictionalengagement of the clamp members 11 and 13 with the upper bars ofthebows.

The adjustment of the device may be easily and quickly effected, as isobvious. The dovetail cross section of the sections 1 and 2, inconnection with the particular form of lugs 3, assures of a requisitedegree of strength and provides against any loose play between thesections.

As has been stated, the braces are preferably used in pairs, each bracebeing set at a position about twelve inches distant from the side barsof the bows, and connecting the upper bars of the bows. This arrangementprovides not only for holding the bars in proper relation to one anotherbut provides as well for a substantial reinforcement of the upper barsduring the fin-. ishing of the top.

Having fully described my invention, I claim:

' 1. As a new and merchantable article of orene? manufacture and sale abrace for setting carriage top bows. consisting of a pair of slidablyconnected sections which in their connected relation constitute acontinuous rigid brace bar and a clamp provided at the outer end of eachsection and comprising a pair of fixed straps, a clamp member hinged toeach strap and having an inturned engaging flange, a headed screw stempassed through the clamp members and a wing nut pro-.

vided on the screw stem for cooperation with the latter to draw theclamp members together.

2. As a new and merchantable article of manufacture and sale a brace forsetting carriage top bows consisting of a pair of similar sections, eachhaving a dovetail cross section and provided at its inner end with aguide lug embracing the other section, one of the sections having a rowof recesses in its inner face, the other section having a screw forengagement in any one of the recesses, and a bow engaging clamp providedat the outer end of each section and comprising a pair of fixed straps,a clamp member hinged to. each strap and having an inturned engagingflange, a headed screw stem passed through the clamp members, and a wingnut provided on the screw stem for cooperation with the latter to drawthe clamp members together, the clamp member against which the wing nutbears having a slot through which the screw stem passes. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS A. STECKEL.

Witnesses I CHAS. M. MoDERMorr, JOHN T. TEMPLE.

